Good Samaritans help put out fire

A small fire in a Canyon Country center median prompted a quick response from two good Samaritans Friday afternoon, according to a witness and fire officials.

John Eric Smith, a Valencia resident, said he was driving around Santa Clarita with his 2-year-old daughter sleeping in the back seat when he saw a small fire flaring up in the center median of Soledad Canyon Road at Whites Canyon Road around 2:30 p.m.

He pulled his car to the side of the road and called 911.

While waiting for firefighters to arrive, Smith saw two men from a local construction company park their truck and jump out with tools, including shovels, a hoe and a rake.

“About 45 seconds to a minute later, they’re working on it,” Smith said.

Firefighters arrived a short time later and took over the task.

“They got back in the truck and just took off,” Smith said of the good Samaritans. “They didn’t have a fire extinguisher. They just put it out with their tools.”

Smith saw the two men again in their truck later and gave them a thumbs-up for their efforts.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Quvondo Johnson confirmed two good Samaritans helped put out the fire. He said firefighters were called out three or four times because smoldering wood chips in the median kept erupting in flames.

Residents are urged not to throw burning cigarettes or other fiery items out of their vehicles, Johnson said.